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Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Hump Secular Orientation

Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, Nov 16, 2011 at 2:09 PM

Greta Christina posts a thoughtful review/reflection on HUMP!:

I loved the polymorphously perverse variety of it: the mix of straight and gay and lesbian and bi and “who the fuck knows what that was”; the mix of kink and vanilla and many flavors in between; the mix of fucked-up and hilarious and touchingly sweet. I loved that some of the most kinky and fucked-up stuff was also some of the sweetest. And even though it makes me a little sad that most of these films are shown only for the HUMP festival and will never be seen again (all copies of the films are returned to the filmmakers or destroyed after the festival—one of their mottos is “porn star for a weekend—not for life”), there’s also something about this that I liked. It made me feel more present, more in the moment, made me pay closer attention and really be here now. (Be there then. Whatever.)

But I think the thing I liked best about the HUMP! festival was… well, the very fact that it was happening. The fact that several hundred people were willing—not just willing but happy, not just happy but excited and delighted and eager—to sit in a public space with several hundred strangers, and watch explicit, often wildly freaky sex videos. (At multiple shows per night. Most of which sold out almost immediately.)

There was a shameless quality to the event. And I don’t mean “shameless” as in “brazen” or “audacious” or “in-your-face.” I mean, quite literally, without shame. The audience was excited, delighted, surprised, shocked, turned on, grossed out, touched, laughing uproariously, on the edge of their seats, and more. But I was in that theater for an hour and a half—longer, if you count hanging out in the lobby waiting to get in—and I didn’t get a single whiff of shame. A little giggly nervous excitement was the closest I saw to anything even resembling shame. And it was a privilege and a delight to see, and to be part of. Like Lily Tomlin said in Jane Wagner’s The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe: “The play was soup—the audience was art.”

Go read the whole thing. (Thanks for the heads up, Blaghag.)

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Wow. Makes me feel sorry I'm on the other side of the planet.

Posted by ankylosaur on November 16, 2011 at 2:49 PM

actually a good point.
and a milestone on the skip to Gommorah.
please don't act surprised when your civilization collapses.
or be hurt when no one mourns it.

Posted by embrace the depravity. breathe it in. there now..... on November 16, 2011 at 3:24 PM

Yep. This is exactly why I love HUMP and why I go back every year.

Posted by ceefurn

on November 16, 2011 at 5:26 PM

I don't understand why HUMP doesn't at least extend to the film makers the option of including their contribution on a HUMP DVD, which would be offered for sale after the festival was over. I get that many of the contributors would not participate if they thought their films would have a life beyond the festival, but if it was totally up to them, then why the hell not? The shy-types could still rest assured that their submissions would be seen only by those at the venue. Of course you'd have to make sure that all of the on-screen actors were okay with the DVD option. The filmmakers would have to decide before they made their films whether they wanted to be on the DVD, and if so, they'd need to gather actors of the same mind. The filmmakers could then share in the proceeds of the sales, with a significant portion going to a worthy charity (aid to sex workers perhaps). I suppose they already have the option of selling their films individually, assuming they retain ownership, but they'd likely get much greater sales and exposure with an official HUMP stamp of approval. Maybe the DVD option has been shot down because you don't want to attract professional porn companies. Well, then figure out how to deal with that. If the DVD scenario just isn't an option for whatever crappy reason life has come up with, how about this... take HUMP further on the road than just Portland! Again, the filmmakers should be given the option of whether they just wanted to play in Seattle or Portland, or be included in the wider release. HUMP could play around the country, one or two weeks at a time in a single city, similar to the Spike & Mike festival of sick and twisted animation. Think of all the people you could reach in far-flung places that would travel a few hours to say, Atlanta, or Austin, or Boston, to see something that tells them sex is not taboo, it's okay and people like to fuck, it's what we fucking do! I've never seen HUMP, but I'd sure as hell buy the DVD, or pay to see it at my local arthouse theater or alternative theater space. Okay, yeah, might be tough to find venues that would play it in some cities, but I think it could be done. Next year, let's all get HUMPED!

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Posted by nightlifejitters on November 16, 2011 at 7:01 PM

I've always been grateful to live in Canada, but I wish I could be in Seattle for this next year.

Posted by AliceE on November 16, 2011 at 7:57 PM

again, just reading about it makes me want to put "start a tampa version of hump" on my long list of things to do.. if i wasn't up to my eye balls in occupy stuff it would get higher billing.. for now, it's a dream.. but soon.. :)

Posted by beckyjoooo on November 17, 2011 at 11:52 AM